NCAA Committee on Infractions exploring change to possibly penalize ADs, presidents and others

Submitted by 907_UM Nanook on February 23rd, 2024 at 1:07 AM

Appears the infractions committee is on the move again. This is getting completely out of hand, like there's an insurgency within the NCAA by rogue actors. 

https://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa-committee-on-infractions-exploring-change-to-possibly-penalize-ads-presidents-and-others-215420406.html

I'm just concerned we're not clear of the NCAA/B1G witch hunt on Team 144.

maznblu

February 23rd, 2024 at 12:45 PM ^

That was my first thought, too. LOL.

However, then I started to wonder if the NCAA is trying to figure out a way to deal with shady ADs and Presidents at other schools who are taking aggressive public relations stances against the NCAA's cases against their schools and basically thumbing their noses at the NCAA. It seems that as it currently stands, these individuals are not held accountable for those efforts, and thus, they can be an effective approach for the schools (that may be why we are seeing it happen more and more).

I suppose it's possible that these rule changes could actually help Michigan if our AD and President act in more ethical ways than others (which may not really feel like "help" if you want Warde fired).

Ultimately, adults need to sit down and develop a system of rules that makes sense regarding student-athletes and academic institutions. I doubt these kinds of "band-aid" approaches are likely to work. The current state of many schools just flaunting the rules is not good for sports. It seems to me that sports need rules, and they need mechanisms to enforce those rules.

 

brad

February 23rd, 2024 at 1:18 AM ^

I thought at its roots, the NCAA actually is the collection of university presidents.  So I'm guessing they will stop short of president punishment.

On our glorious national championship, no matter what anyone does in the future, no one can take away the reality of those games, that saga, and the ultimate prize.  Not that it will happen, but even if they stuffed our trophies in a basement next to Reggie Bush's Heisman, it wouldn't really matter to me.

907_UM Nanook

February 23rd, 2024 at 1:03 PM ^

I wouldn't be concerned except the fact UM bends over every time the NCAA comes at us, and we're their favorite target when trying to flex. The key part of the article to me is how they mention using "vacated wins" as their core strategy for punishment.

Agree they can't take away our Natty, but they could tarnish the record books. Probably not worth posting at 11pm AK Time though! Go Blue

NewBlue7977

February 23rd, 2024 at 6:04 AM ^

This will only happen to programs the NCAA WANTS to investigate and punish.  ADs and presidents at schools like U-M would be vulnerable in the future, but ones at OSU, Alabama, etc would not be.  

rice4114

February 23rd, 2024 at 11:31 AM ^

The problem is everyone hates a successful team that isnt theirs. For example Pete Carrol and Jim Harbaugh, although completely different styles, were run out of town by the NCAA. 2 non-SEC programs that are dominating being brought down by the NCAA. But we dont care for USC and they dont care for us so we dont back each other. 

Nixon Bluett

February 23rd, 2024 at 6:53 AM ^

This feels mostly like a reaction to pay-to-play with direct involvement from the university. While the NCAA still has to come to a conclusion about Stalions, that was very much about how the game was played not how the team is administered. I could see this new AD at tOSU finding himself in hot water, though.

Perkis-Size Me

February 23rd, 2024 at 7:55 AM ^

To me all this translates to is "We're exploring avenues to punish schools THAT ALLOW US TO PUNISH THEM." 

So...Kansas? OSU? Alabama? Texas? Tennessee? They're almost certainly off the hook. They've already figured out how to tell the NCAA to f**k off and make it stick. 

Michigan? Well, I guess they'd better buckle up. NCAA's gotta eat, and Michigan is the only cash cow allowing them to sit at the table. 

DelGriffith

February 23rd, 2024 at 8:27 AM ^

Interesting to see if all the milquetoast ADs and presidents start to react when the NCAA starts coming for THEM.

Suddenly they start growing a pair instead of just aquiescing to whatever the NCAA wants.

St Joe Blues

February 23rd, 2024 at 8:33 AM ^

It sounds like a rule that was made for situations like this:

https://scarletandgame.com/2011/03/10/buckeye-clips-tressel-presser-post-mortem/

The NCAA enforcement staff, which is independent from the Committee on Infractions, must have found a school guilty of “lack of institutional control” for a president’s name to be revealed.

That fits E. Gordon "I hope he doesn't fire me" Gee to a tee.

MgoFunk

February 23rd, 2024 at 9:32 AM ^

“We got him, we finally got Harbaugh out of college football… oh wait, we made this into a really big deal…how do we spin it so we still get our pound of flesh?  We go after the ADs!”

”we go after the job positions that are sticking up for us?  Brilliant!”

Sonny Jim

February 23rd, 2024 at 10:07 AM ^

Don't know how likely this is to pass with any teeth, but it looks promising.  The most infuriating part of the cheeseburgers and Connor Stalions was how the regents, Santa, and Warde were all too willing to let Jim take all the punishment for whatever was alleged in the hopes that it would all just go away.  Maybe if they personally had skin in the game they could have found a little more will to push back.

JonathanE

February 23rd, 2024 at 3:14 PM ^

Quit trying to rewrite history. 

The most infuriating part of the cheeseburgers and Connor Stalions was how the regents, Santa, and Warde were all too willing to let Jim take all the punishment for whatever was alleged in the hopes that it would all just go away.  

Michigan under Coach Jim Harbaugh was GUILTY of four Level II violations. There is no if, and's or but's about that. Michigan broke the rules. We can claim righteous indignation until the cows come home about the Level I violation, but the truth of the matter is, no one has publicly shown what exactly the NCAA got their undies all twisted about to allege that Harbaugh lied or mislead the investigators. Personally, it seems sort of suspect to me but until that information is released, it's all just speculation and we do not know if it has any merit at all. The fact is that there is no Level I violation if there were not the Level II violations.

As far as Connor Stalions goes, the University brought out their big gun attorneys, but they couldn't get an injunction. By the time there would have been a hearing and a response from the courts, the 3-game suspension from the Big Ten would have been over. Michigan, not the NCAA or the Big Ten had just fired Chris Partridge and the Big Ten was willing to drop out after the suspension and let the whole thing stay with the NCAA. Michigan and Harbaugh obviously felt that was the best way out of a bad situation. 

I personally am of the opinion that there is a difference between 3rd party video and in person scouting but there is that whole Connor Stalions, a member of the Michigan Coaching Staff, on the Central Michigan sidelines dressed as a CMU coach, while they are playing Michigan State. There isn't a work around for that. 

Let's quit with the whole Harbaugh was as pure as the driven snow story. As far as scandals go, Harbaugh & Michigan are way down the list, but rules were broken under Harbaugh while he was in charge. 

 

 

uminks

February 24th, 2024 at 1:58 AM ^

Stallions was working for CMU not Michigan. They would never let him dress up as a CMU coach and run the sidelines. He was legally diagnosing signs for CMU and his disguise was to prevent Michigan from finding out he was moonlighting. It is the only thing that make sense. CMU would never let a Michigan coach run the sidelines like that. CMU paid him for that game. So how does Michigan prevent someone secretly moonlighting to make money? So, no there is not a level 1 violation. The suspension of Harbaugh for 3 games by the B1G was complete bullshit, since Michigan fired Stallions as soon as the NCAA/B1G told them about Stallions paying friends to take cell phone video of games (something that did not help in anyway) Our toughest games we did not have Stallions diagnosing signs. Partridge was fired because he coached kids what to say to investigators, not because he had any of Stallions sign stealing junk.

denardogasm

February 23rd, 2024 at 10:12 AM ^

In case of something like the PSU scandal this makes some sense as far as lack of institutional control or downright turning a blind eye. But the question remains, what the hell is the NCAA going to do to punish a university president, or even an AD? Tell them they can't sit in the box in their own facility to watch the game? Make them pay a fine to an organization that has no real organizational structure? When are the schools just going to sack up and tell the NCAA it doesn't exist anymore. That's basically all it would take and it would cease to exist. Design something else with a real structure and rules, say it's a real thing and everyone is joining, and that day the NCAA is gone. If the Rock can create a whole new football league so can the universities.